Meteb box



May 1. 1928.

E. L. NUEBLING METER BOX Filed May 4. 1926 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS Patented May 1, 1928.

nun. L. NUEBLING, or READING, PENNSY VANIA.

METER BOX.

Application filed May 4,

My invention relates particularly to street meter boxes; and it consists in an improved cover-top construction for the usual imbedded casing whereby more satisfactory access to the encased meter for needed atten tion is provided forgand accidental or run warranted opening ofthe box avoided, as fully set forth in connection with the accompanying drawings and clearly defined in the subjoinedclaim Fig. 1 is a. sectional elevation, on the line l--1 of Fig. 2, of a meter box embodying my invention in preferred ,form.

.Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing the top cover in position.

Fig. 3 is a plan View, showing only the lower portion of my improved cover box in position upon the sunken casingandwith the sectional inner cover for the latter supported thereon in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the inner cover on the line 44 ofFig. 3.

The sunken meter casing is ordinarily constructed of concrete and formed to provide sufiicient space for determined size meters to enable satisfactory room for needed attention; the cover. top however being commonly formed separately of cast metal, and providing for the employment of an outer cover arranged ordinarily on the street level, and also for an inner or frost cover arranged adjacent the top of the fixed casing 10 and considerably below the top cover. a

A main purpose of my invention is to provide a cover top which will not only permit of ordinary inspection conveniently, but which will enable mostsatisfactory access to the sunken casing chamber notwithstanding that the top cover is required to be of relatively small size. To this end my improved cover-supporting casing extension 12 is formed with a top opening 13 adapted for a top cover plate 14 of ordinary convenient size, seating as usual upon an interior supporting flange 15; with the size of the box extension gradually increasing downwardly from the top opening 13 to the base member 16 which rests upon the top of the casing 10, so as to give a frusto-conical form to the box extension 12 above an enlarged inner opening 18; and with a larger diameter interior supporting portion 19 on said base member 16, for supporting a sectionally formed inner or frost cover 20, 21, adapted to close said opening 18 but made conven- 1926. Serial No. 106,771.

iently removable in part or whole as may be required respectively for convenient -inspection of the meter only, or to. afford "Free ac cess to the meter enclosing casing 10 when necessary. The base member 1G 01 the cover box extension is most conveniently formed as a separate part as indicated, with its seating portion andpositioning lugs 16 adapted to the actual size of the casing 10 upon which it is supported. a

The sectional construction of theinner or frost cover, which normally closes the large opening to the sunken; casing 10 asshown particularly in l ig'ilgcomprises two similar segmental side partsorsections 20, 20, the curvededge portions 20 of which have re cessed engagement with the supporting portion .19 as indicated so asto satisfactorily retain them in proper position on the latter while permitting of ready removal and replacement; and an intermediate diametral section 21, 21 comprising two separate parts of unequal diametral extent, having recessed engagement with each other and with the side segments 20 so as to properly position them while permitting of separate removal, as indicated. The longer intermediate part 21 covers the central portion of the inner opening 18 so that its removal alone, or lifting one end by means of a finger-gripping projection 22 will permit inspection of the enclosed meter below through the top opening 13; while complete removal of the separate cover sections 21, 21, 20, 20 through said top opening will permit of free access to and convenient manipulation of the enclosed meter (not shown).

The top cover 14 is commonly retained upon its supporting flange;15 by a fixed flange-engaging lug 1 1, and by a rotary flange-engaging and disengaging disc having'a chordal flat, and operated by a socket wrench ordinarily adapted toengage a pentagon projection 30 thereon as indicated; said disc 30 being retained in posit-ion on the under side of cover 14 by a strap member 34 secured to the cover by end bolts 35, 35 and having a central aperture to loosely receive axial projection 36 of disc 30. In order to guard against accidental or mischievous loosening and removal of this top cover I provide locking means for this cover: clamping device 30 by forming the flangeengaging plate or disc 31 thereof with a locking notch 32, and providing the cover with a vertically movable detent in the form of a cover handle 33; which latter engages in said notch when it is in normally lowered posit/ion flush with the top surface of the cover as indicated, but which is disengaged when the handle is held in raised position. Thus accidental loosening of' the cover is positively prevented, and unwarranted loosening practically avoided so as to etl'ectively safeguard the cover box and meter.

The preferred construction specifically set forth may be modified as desired without sacrificing the benefit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat- I claim is p 1. In combination with a meter-enclosing casing: a conical top extension provided at its smaller upper end with a top opening and an interior cover supporting flange and at its lower portion with a larger inner opening, a supporting member for said extension, a re movable outer cover for said top opening, and a larger cover for said inner opening comprising segmental side sections and an intermediate section which is separately removable through said top opening to provide a reduced middle opening to the casing. In combination with a n'ieter-cnclosing easing; a conical top extension provided at its smaller upper end with a top opening and an interior cover supporting flange and at its lower portion with a larger inner opening, a supporting member for said extension, a removable outer cover 'for said top opening. and a larger cover for said inner opening comprising two oppositely arranged segmental sections and two intermediate sections all of which are supported on said supporting member; one of the said intermediate sections extending across the middle portion of said larger inner opening and being separately ren'lovable to atl'ord a reduced middle opening to the casing.

3. In a meter box comprising an enclosing casing having an open top extension with an interior flange; a removable cover for said open top comprising a plate adapted to scat upon said flange and having mounted thereon a rotatable cover-clamping disc. a locking recess in the latter, and a vertically movable lock engageable in said rc('e i. In a meter box comprising an enclosing casing having an open top extension with an interior flange; a removable cover for Mild open top comprising a plate adapted to seat upon said flange and having mounted there on a rotatable cover-clamping disc. a chordal Hat on the latter having a locking recess. and a vertically movable handle adapted to engage in said recess when the handle is in normally lowered position.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

EMIL L. noninlixo. 

